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WEAA mourns the loss of longtime Gospel Grace family member

WEAA Gospel Grace Announcer Tyra (Phillips) Womack

It is with heavy hearts that we, at WEAA report the passing of the Tyra Phillips.  Tyra was a dedicated member of the Gospel Grace team, heard on Sunday afternoons with Joi Thomas delivering church announcements. Tragically, Tyra's life was claimed by gun violence Wednesday night.

According to a statement from Baltimore Police spokeswoman Nicole Monroe, “this was a tragic senseless tragic murder as are many. “It appears to have stemmed from a neighbor dispute,” said Monroe. Investigators began receiving information almost immediately and have identified a person of interest.”  

DeWayne Wickham, Dean of Morgan State University's School of Journalism and Global Communication said Ms. Phillips has served the “Voice of the Community” since 1989 and was a truly respected and valued member of WEAA's gospel music program team. "We are truly saddened, as a community and more importantly as a family, by the inexplicable and senseless death of one of our dearest WEAA voices," said Wickham.  "The plague of gun violence has claimed another victim life leaving us all to grieve. We will truly miss her and the WEAA family extends our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the Womack family."              

Tyra leaves behind her mother, a sister and a son and as Gospel Grace team member Derek Fletcher says, a “group of other devoted relatives and friends.” She was the administrative assistant to the United States Post Master General for the DMV Region, a faithful member of First Apostolic Faith Church (South Caroline Street) where she sang in the choir and read the weekly church announcements.  There will be special 'Day of Dedication on Gospel Grace' this Sunday in Tyra's honor on WEAA 88.9 FM. Memories, tributes of love for Tyra have been pouring out all day as news traveled across social media: